Hi, friends and family!
THE V I S I O N
I AM SO EXCITED TO SHARE THIS PART OF MY STORY WITH YOU :) Here is where two of my deepest passions collide— my birthday, and my desire to adopt. One hot summer day I was sitting by the pool when the Lord plopped this vision right in my lap. What if I used my birthday to allow people to join in Gospel work alongside me? To link arms with me as I prepare to begin the complex adoption process? And there it was— the idea was born. In lieu of gifts for my birthday, I'm asking for financial gifts towards my adoption fund! And then it will all culminate at my golden birthday ✨ party in 3 years when I turn 28! I'm praying that God would do something mind blowing through this.
THE W H Y
I am called to provide a permanent home for those without parents through adoption. My hope is that we would always be a people with the gift of sight ; we would see those who are wounded, lonely, and marginalized. James 1:27 tells us that “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Because this is what the Father tells us is a true and beautiful religion, I want to follow this call with faithful and joyful obedience. My hope for the rest of my life is that I could answer the question God has asked me, "Rachel, do you love me?" with a resounding, unending "yes". I pray that I would love Him with all of my life, love His people, and multiply my life by making disciples, including the little ones that will one day call me Mom. :)
Will you link arms with me? Happy birthday to me ;) but more importantly, welcome to the Kingdom of God! Where the lonely find comfort, the orphan finds a home, the childless becomes a parent, the weak are made strong, and the presence of Jesus our King is our endurance and our truest delight.
I (and Eli too!) am beyond excited and are doing everything we can to be prepared to welcome a beautiful new life into our home. As part of my adoption process, we have started a crowdfunding campaign. It may surprise you to hear that adoption related costs can easily total up to $35,000 or more. This fund is to help ease the financial burden that often overwhelms adoptive parents.
I hope that by inviting you into this process, you will see yourself as part of the community we hope to build around our child as he/she grows up. :)
